Jina Kim

Kim, Jina
Jina Kim, Project Director, Space for Contemporary Art, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Conference Report. December 2024

The 56th edition of CIMAM's Annual Conference addressed the subject of sustainability and explored practical strategies that cultural institutions can adopt to respond to global challenges such as climate change, social inequality and economic instability. The three-day program included 3 keynote speakers, 17 perspective presentations, panel discussions, a breakout session, and tours to art museums and galleries. As a first-time attendee of the CIMAM conference, I was able to witness the urgent discussions and dialogues on forging new models of sustainable practice in the cultural sector, and was deeply inspired by the diverse approaches proposed. When it comes to art, the term “sustainability” takes on many meanings, and this nourishing program was an opportunity for me to broaden my understanding of it. Moreover, it was a chance to learn through the experiences of other institutions and different models of collective action about the many factors that need to be taken into account, such as logistics, architecture, landscaping, finance, local ties, and so on.

Among the topics and presentations, the discussions on exploring innovative models for economic

sustainability and community building were of great interest to me as they are closely related to my field of work. The content that Zita Cobb brought to the table touched on both of these subjects. In her powerful keynote presentation titled “The Possibilities of Places,“ Cobb presented the history of the fishing community of Fogo Island and how they adopted a model to sustain long-term goals for self-reliance while deeply involving the residents. The business model was extremely idealistic but proved to be feasible, and inspired me to employ it in my future projects to come.

As a curator based in South Korea, I am focused on stimulating actions for sustainability in relation to the diversity of Asia’s cultural and historical heritage. One of the major curatorial practices that I am involved in is the Real DMZ Project. The Real DMZ Project is a contemporary art project that explores the visible boundaries of the Demilitarized Zone and the border region between North and South Korea. We especially engage with the many rural communities in the region, and as artist Mark Bradford pointed out that community projects should not be a one-time interaction, we try to build an active and sustainable relationship. Cobb’s case provided me the insight to adopt practical models that aim for inclusive development for a sustainable future when working with the diverse communities in the border regions of Korea.

By coming together and interacting with art professionals who represent an incredibly rich array of cultures, societies, histories and environments in LA, the Annual Conference allowed me to learn, discuss and hear different perspectives on common concerns and challenges, and also introduce the Korean art scene to the other participants. In particular, the conference enabled me to build and strengthen networks with international art professionals and to develop a more structured framework for my ongoing curatorial practice to achieve sustainability. The new knowledge gained from the conference will strengthen my research and develop my career, and I hope that new collaborations will emerge with the many new colleagues I met during the conference to achieve a sustainable future.

Lastly, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Byucksan Cultural Foundation for their generous support that allowed me to join the CIMAM Annual Conference, to CIMAM for the amazing opportunity, and to my colleagues in Korea for their trust.


Biography

Jina Kim (b. 1988) is a Seoul based curator. She received a BA in International Studies and MA in Art History writing her thesis on the works of Maurizio Cattelan from Ewha Womans University. She was the curator of ARARIO MUSEUM (2014-2021) and exhibition coordinator at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (2022). She is currently the Project Director at Space for Contemporary Art (2023-), a non-profit curatorial organization.

Starting as the inaugural member of ARARIO MUSEUM, she participated in opening ARARIO MUSEUM in Space located in Seoul, and ARARIO MUSEUM Tapdong Cinema, Tapdong Bikeshop, Dongmun Motel I and Dongmun Motel II located in Jeju Island. She focused on researching and exhibiting Arario’s private collection as well as curating the solo shows of young emerging Korean artists including Noh Sangho, Woonghyun Kim, Jongwan Jang and Rae Sim.

After working as the exhibition coordinator for the exhibition MMCA Hyundai Motor Series 2022: Choe U-Ram – Little Ark at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, she is currently focusing on developing the Real DMZ Project (an art project that explores the DMZ through the critical lens of contemporary art), and also newly commissioned productions for both Korean and international artists as the Project Director at Space for Contemporary Art. Recently she co-curated the performance-exhibition Field Trip of Bob Kil and Nina Beier, Tarek Atoui’s solo exhibition The Rain, and Dan Lie’s solo exhibition 36 Months of Loss. This year she will curate a group exhibition titled Undo Planet, a public art project that addresses the topics of climate change and the ecosystem based on site-specific research, seeking to explore actions for a sustainable future and coexistence between human and nature.

Jina Kim, Project Director, Space for Contemporary Art, Seoul, Republic of Korea, has been awarded by the Byucksan Cultural Foundation, Seoul.